Eagle Scout honored

Seventeen-year-old Benjamin Thomas St. John achieved the Eagle Scout Rank on Aug. 8, 2008 at his Board of Review.

He is the son of Karen St. John and Keith St. John (Lisa St. John) of Grace Lutheran Church in Elmore.

Only two percent of scouts attain the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America. Earning the rank of Eagle Scout involves many years of work. His service has included a number of community service projects, the earning of no less than 30 merit badges, learning a number of outdoor skills.

St. John also held leadership positions including Senior Patrol Leader, the highest troop youth leadership position. As his Eagle service project, he prepared and implemented project plans that included installation of three timber flower boxes, gravel and a decorative stone pathway, grading earth, installing plants and a water fountain display in the courtyard of Grace Lutheran Church.

He led a crew of volunteers in completing this task, which took a total of 167 hours to complete.

St. John joined Cub Scout Pack 314 in Elmore, at the age of 6 as a Tiger Cub and went on to earn the Cub Scouts’ highest award, the Arrow of Light in 2003. As a Boy Scout, he attended various summer camps. He also participated in a high adventure camp at Philmont Scout Ranch near Cimarron, N.M., where he ascended Mount Baldy to an elevation of 12,441 feet.

Troop 314 is sponsored by Kiwanis of Elmore.

St. John, a junior at Woodmore High School, is a member of The National Honor Society, and a mentor in the school’s TAG program. He has earned varsity letters in football, wrestling and track and field. He also earned All League Honors in football this year and was SLL and sectional champion in wrestling. In addition, he is very active in Grace Lutheran’s Youth Group and Praise Band, where he plays the drums.

St. John’s Eagle Award Ceremony will be held at Grace Lutheran Church April 19 at 2 p.m.